Outlet-valve-operating mechanism for flushing tanks



' Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,481

- A. F. CURTIN OUTLET VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLUSHING TANKS Filed Feb. 3, 1926 Patented Oct 12, 1926.

, UNITE STATES;

Annnaw F. cuarm, on MEDFORD, nassaonusn rrs.

OUTLET-VALVE-OPERATING .MECHANIBM FOR FLUSHING: TANKS;

Application filed February 3,; s elfial li'ogflfifipg. 1

The present invention relates to an improvement in outlet valve operating mechanism for flushing tanks.

The present invention is an improvement on the construction illustrated in the patent to Curtin No. 1,154:,428, dated May 8, 1923. In the construction of that patent the hollow bolt 15, which carried the supporting arm 13 of the valve operating lever support, had a large head which Was made of metal and was adapted to engage the outer surface of the tank wall. The tendency of the times in the construction of bathroom fixtures is to make all exposed parts as far as possible of porcelain. It has been proposed to enamel the enlarged head of the bolt 15, but that is an expedient which has not commended itself because of the liability of the enamel to chip off and to deteriorate in color in process of time.

The present invention contemplates an improvement on the construction of said patent in order to remove exposed metal of the head of the bolt, and to eliminate the expedient of coating it with enamel.

To this end the present invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken through the tank wall, showing the parts in position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 33, Fig. 2.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is described .as follows: The valve operating lever 10 is pivotally mounted on the operating lever support 11 in the manner shown in said patent. The operating lever support is provided with a boss 12 which is received in the square hole or opening 13 formed in the front wall 14 of the tank. The boss is of truncated, pyramidal form, and is held in the hole 13 by the hollow bolt 15. The hollow bolt 15 has a head on its outer end. It extends through a porcelain bolt head support 16, and through the center of the boss 12 of the operating lever support, and receives on its threaded outer surface the nut 17. By holding the operating lever support in position in the hole 13 and inserting the bolt 15, carrying its porcelain bolt head support, through the hole in the boss, the nut 17 may be screwed on shaft.

the bolt 15 and tightened up, thereby holding the operating lever support. securely fixed in position. The under side of thebolt head support 16 engages the outer surface of the front wall of the tank close to the bolt, as a result of which it is subjected to compressive stresses only. The porcelain bolt head support is a strong, thick, sturdy covering for the hole, and having parallel sides is adapted to receive the stresses without breaking, although made of porcelain. It corresponds in color and permanency to the color and permanenc of the tank and the handle hereinafter re erred to.

The handle 18 is of porcelain, and has securely fixed in it the handle shaft 19. This handle shaft extends through the center of the hollow bolt, and on its end is secured the operating crank 20. A screw threaded through the boss of the crank enters a hole drilled in the 'end of the shaft 19, and securely fixes the crank on the handle The crank pin 21 of the crank engages the upper surface of the valve operating lever, which is formed as shown in said patent, with a depression and two rises, one on each side thereof, so that by turning the handle in either direction the valve operat: ing lever is swung upon its pivot to lift the outlet valve.

It is to be observed that the porcelain bolt head support transmits direct, or nearly direct, compressive forces from the head of the bolt to the surface of the tank. The stresses, therefore, to which the bolt head support is subjected are such as the mate rial is well adapted to sustain.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

Outlet valve operating mechanism for flushing tanks comprising a valve operating lever, an operating lever support upon which the valve operating lever is pivotally mounted, said support being provided with a pyramidal boss having a central hole, a valve tank provided with a square hole in its wall into which the pyramidal boss is adapted to enter until its sloping sides engage the edges of the hole to afford rigidity of support therefor, a porcelain bolt head support adapted to cover the hole in the tank and engage the outer surface of the tank Wall and provided with a bolt hole, a hollow bolt provided with a head to engage the outside of the porcelain bolt head support passed through the hole there-.

0 in and through the hole in the operating and outer surface of the tank Wall, and a lever support boss, a nut, said bolt being handle provided With a shaft extending I" exteriorly screw-threaded on its inner end through the hollow bolt and connected With to receive the nut to clamp the porcelain the valve operating lever.

5 bolt head support and operating lever sup- In testimony whereof I have signed my port in position on the tank, said porcename to this specification. lain bolt head support being subjected to compressive stresses between the bolt head ANDREWV F CURTIN. 

